The Strangeness of the Familiar

A presentation of works by Zoya Taylor

March 11 – 31, 2023
Extended to April 7th

We all have memories which we carry around with us. Our memories, the burdens and gifts of our forebears, our histories. Memory is time and emotions. Familiar yet strange.

The state of not knowing, of being in doubt and in flux is an ongoing theme for me in my work. The paintings in this exhibition have as a touchstone the idea of strength in uncertainty. 

- Zoya Taylor

Growing up between Germany, Jamaica and Canada as a mixed-race child, the young Zoya Taylor lived the experience of “otherness”. This “otherness” would become one of the most salient elements in the content of her art to this present time. Taylor paints vibrant and striking characters that beg us to confront our own vulnerabilities, often with humour.

Painting has been a life-long practice for Taylor, but for the last twenty odd years she has been a full-time artist, continuously mining her own personal stories to paint compelling narratives that captivate and engross an international audience. Based in Oslo, Norway, Zoya Taylor has received several awards, international recognition with her largest following in the United States.

UpcomingSpence Gallery